A Guide to the Altice One
The Altice One is a combination router and TV box that’s designed for Optimum and Suddenlink internet and TV services. Because the Altice One integrates with popular streaming apps like YouTube and Netflix, as well as on-demand programs, you always have plenty of entertainment options at your fingertips. It features an easy-to-use app, too, so you can enjoy a custom entertainment experience that’s personalized just for you.
Looking to learn more? This guide will break down the Altice One’s 2-in-1 router, DVR recording options, live TV capabilities, voice-activated remote control, app, and more to help you get the most out of this impressive device.
- 2-in-1 router
- DVR recording
- Watching live TV
- Voice-activated remote control
- 4K Ultra resolution
- Altice One app
- Control Altice One with Amplify
- How to get an Altice One
- How much does an Altice One cost?
2-in-1 router
The Altice One features a 2-in-1 router, removing the need for an extra device to connect you to the internet. Like other 2-in-1 routers, the Altice One features both a modem and a Wi-Fi router. The modem brings your internet signal into the house via a cable that goes out to the street and links to your Suddenlink or Optimum service.
The router takes the signal from your internet service provider (ISP) and makes it available to the different wireless devices in your home. For example, you can connect your phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, or other device using the Wi-Fi signal from your Altice One. You also have the option of connecting Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as refrigerators, toasters, or home security systems. In addition, if you have a wireless printer, you could use the Altice One to link it to any device you’d like to print from—just like a regular router.
DVR recording
The Altice One gives you the option of recording content using a DVR (digital video recorder). If you want to watch a show but you’re not going to be home when it airs, you can program your Altice One to record it for you. When you have time, you can play it back, as well as watch it multiple times.
You can store up to 300 hours of standard definition (SD) content and 75 hours of high-definition (HD) content. You can also leverage parental controls to limit who’s allowed to watch specific types of content.
The DVR feature also gives you the ability to rewind TV as far as 30 minutes into the past. You can rewind programming on either the channel you’re currently watching or the one you selected before your current one.
Also, if you start recording a program and realize you didn’t allocate enough time for the recording, you can change the amount of time you’ll be recording—even as the show is playing. For example, if you typically record a show that lasts an hour, but the first episode of a new season is an hour-and-a-half, you can adjust the length of the recording in the middle of the show.
How does the Altice One’s Cloud DVR work?
The Altice One’s Cloud DVR feature works by giving you a cloud-based app with a flexible interface you can access on multiple devices. The concept behind Cloud DVR is relatively simple. Suppose you’re using your Altice One with your TV, and you want to record a show. The app that powers the Cloud DVR is inside a computer in a data center. The commands you enter to start recording the show get sent to this computer through the internet.
In addition, all the content is also coming from a data center through your internet connection, which makes it possible for you to rewind, pause, and fast-forward content—exactly as you would if you were watching a show on YouTube or one that you’ve stored locally on your computer.
Watching on multiple devices
Another benefit of the Altice One’s Cloud DVR feature is you can watch the same programming on multiple devices. This gives you the freedom to start a movie on your phone, continue it on your laptop, and then finish it on your TV. Each time you pause the video, the Cloud DVR system remembers where you left off, enabling you to pick up right where you stopped, regardless of the device you’re using.
Watching live TV
In addition to pre-recorded cable TV content, when you purchase an Altice One, you can also watch live TV. This means you can check out programming such as the local news or your favorite shows. Some people may find this helpful because you not only get to watch the most recent programming, but when you have to interact with a show, such as by casting a vote, you can do it in real-time.
Voice-activated remote control
The Altice One comes with a remote control you can use your voice to activate. This gives you several options that you wouldn’t otherwise get with traditional remote controls.
How the voice-activated remote works
The Altice One’s voice-activated remote works by using a voice-recognition function that can understand what you’re saying and then activate certain features according to what the program thinks you want. The system works using artificial intelligence (AI).
An AI-powered interface
The programming that powers the Altice One’s remote control is similar to that of other voice-recognition-based programs. An AI-powered application analyzes the sound waves of your voice and associates them with words—the profiles of which are stored inside the program. So when you speak into the remote and say, “Find The Bachelor,” the AI associates what you said with information it has stored about that show. It then interfaces with the Altice One app to locate the show for you.
Bluetooth-powered
The Altice One’s voice-activated remote works using a Bluetooth connection to your TV. Bluetooth is a very high radio frequency that allows for fast exchanges of data between two devices and works similarly to Wi-Fi. The biggest difference is because Bluetooth has such a high frequency, it may not work if you’re too far from your TV. At a certain distance, the signal can get corrupted to the point where your voice can’t be sent to the app that powers the voice recognition system. So, to ensure your Altice One remote works as it should, it’s best to stay close to your TV.
Search options on the Altice One remote
You can search for entertainment using a variety of vocal inputs. These include:
Actors
You can say the name of an actor you like, whether you want to watch a movie or show they were in or because you forgot the name of a movie you know they were featured in. For example, you could say into your Altice One remote, “Halle Berry” or “Halle Berry movies,” and you’d get programming featuring the 2001 Oscar winner.
Movie titles
If you know the movie you want to watch, you can speak it into the remote and the Altice One’s system will locate it for you. This feature works regardless of the channel the movie is on.
Sports categories
If you’re a sports fan, you don’t have to limit your voice searches to the names of certain teams. You can simply speak the name of a sport into the remote, and the Altice One’s system will display programming for that specific sport. This is useful if you’re in the mood for a particular kind of action. For example, if you say “basketball” into the remote, you’ll get results from not just the NBA, but also the WNBA as well as college and international competitions.
4K Ultra resolution
When you purchase an Altice One system, you also get access to 4K Ultra resolution, which is significantly more detailed and vivid than standard high-definition (HD). Specifically, 4K Ultra gives you four times the resolution as a typical high-definition resolution. In other words, if you were to count the pixels, which are tiny light emitters, inside a square inch of a 4K screen, you’d get four times the amount you’d see in the same space within an HD screen.
What does this mean for you as a viewer? Because each pixel displays a specific color associated with the image on the screen, you get brighter, more detailed pictures. The way the Altice One makes this possible is by providing you with access to programming recorded in a format that’s 4K Ultra-compatible. However, because the Altice One doesn’t alter your screen’s resolution, if your TV isn’t capable of showing 4K Ultra resolution, the content may look the same as it would in HD.
How can you tell if your TV can show Altice One’s 4K Ultra content? You have to check its resolution to figure out how many pixels it has. For example, the screen of an HD TV has at least 1,280 pixels horizontally and 720 pixels vertically. That’s why it’s often referred to as 720p. A 4K TV has a lot more: at least 3,480 pixels horizontally and 2,160 pixels vertically.
Altice One app
The Altice One app is a personalized interface connecting you to the Altice One’s cloud-enabled entertainment system. As long as you have the app installed on your device, you can view content coming from Suddenlink or Optimum. Your device also has to be connected to the internet, which is what enables you to watch a program from where you paused it on another device.
You can also use the app to manage your DVR recordings whether you’re at home or on the go. For example, if you’re getting close to your allotment of 300 hours of HD programming and you’re not home, you can open the app on your phone and delete some content to free up space.
Using the Altice One app with an Apple TV
If you have Apple TV, you can also access the Altice One app. It appears as an option on your Apple TV’s list of applications. In this way, you can get many of the benefits of having an Altice One without actually buying the device itself.
The Home screen
The Home screen on the Altice One app, similar to the remote control, also uses artificial intelligence. The Home screen automatically changes based on what its artificial intelligence engine “thinks” you like. This gives it the ability to both display content you’ve watched in the past and content preferred by others who like things you’ve watched.
For example, if you watch a lot of Star Trek, you may get a series of science fiction recommendations on your Home screen. Similarly, if you’re into crime dramas, other crime dramas—or even general drama content may show up on your Home screen.
This feature may be particularly helpful for discovering movies or shows you wouldn’t come across otherwise. Sports fans, for instance, can get recommendations from the Home screen featuring their favorite teams or sports, making it easier to never miss a great shot, swing or dunk.
Personalized sports experience
To further cater to the needs of sports fans, the Altice One comes with sports-specific features designed to enhance their viewing experiences. For example, if you want to make sure you never miss a Boston Celtics game, you can specify that in the Altice One’s system. You’re then shown Celtics games playing at that moment, later that day, or in the future.
Control Altice One with Amplify
Whether you have Suddenlink or Optimum, you have the option of getting the Amplify smart speaker. This enables you to enjoy high-quality audio and also control your Altice One app using voice commands, similar to how you would with the remote control. The Amplify has Alexa built-in, giving you the control and flexibility Alexa provides, plus the ability to navigate within the Altice One app without having to specify which tech you’re using.
How to get an Altice One
To get an Altice One, you have to sign up for service with either Suddenlink or Optimum. However, Suddenlink discloses that the Altice One isn’t available in all areas. So you may want to check to see if it’s an option during the sign-up process.
How much does an Altice One cost?
If you have Optimum, the Altice One costs $19/month. For Suddenlink, you’ll pay $20/month.
If you’re ready to explore the features of Altice One, check to see if Suddenlink or Optimum service is available in your area by entering your address below.
*Pricing varies by location and availability. Speeds may vary. All prices subject to change; for current pricing and availability visit our TV service page. Prices as of 3/22/22.
Disclosure | Updater articles are based on our own data and research, independent from partner relationships. We are not compensated by partners for information and opinions presented here. Our Editorial Terms of Service can be found here.
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